MIAMI – When Matt Clement and Antonio Alfonseca were dealt from Florida to Chicago during spring training in 2002, the only recognizable player going the other way – if you can call him that – was Julian Tavarez.

And then “The Dontrelle Willis Show” rolled into South Florida faster than a 4 o’clock thunderstorm.

It’s no stretch to say the outcome of tonight’s game – with Clement starting for the Cubs against Willis and the Marlins – may determine which team got the better of the deal. One pitcher will have the opportunity to put his team in a three games to one stranglehold. The other will be pitching to even the series at two.

And who knows when either team will return to the playoffs again?

ClemEnt, 29, and Willis, 21, both have much to prove, even after what some would view as breakthrough seasons.

“Extra motivation? You know, not really, because there’s enough motivation here already,” Clement said. “We’re in the playoffs, we’re trying to get to the World Series.”

“It’s just another game, and I’m just excited to face a good team,” Willis said. “And hopefully we play well against them.”

Willis was nothing short of remarkable since his call-up on May 9 from Double-A Carolina. He went 14-6 with a 3.30 ERA and the Marlins were 19-8 in his starts. He brought a refreshing energy and a youthful bounce, which rubbed off on his teammates.

“He’s a fine young man, and his smile is contagious,” said Cubs manager Dusty Baker, whose wife knows Willis’ mom and attended his baby shower.

Although Arizona’s Brandon Webb had better numbers overall, Willis was 9-1 with a 2.08 ERA in the first half and may win the NL Rookie of the Year. His starts began attracting thousands of additional fans and made it cool to follow the Marlins again, and some are saying he’s the reason for the team’s strong finish.

“Everyone took a part in us getting to the situation we’re in now,” Willis said. “So when people are saying that, it’s semi-upsetting, because you’ve got 24 other guys over there playing just as hard.”

He tired down the stretch, only posting two wins in his final nine starts while losing four times. He registered a no-decision in his NLDS start against the Giants.

“Baseball is a funny thing in that aspect,” Willis said. “I think teams were able to make adjustments.”

Clement went 12-11 with a 3.60 ERA in 2002 with the Cubs, and he recorded a career-high 14 victories this season. He finished 14-11 with a 4.11 ERA, rounding out a rotation that is topped by the far more heralded Mark Prior and Kerry Wood.

“He just wants to pitch,” Baker said. “Those two guys are getting headlines and striking out half the world. He doesn’t care.”

But the Cubs haven’t won a playoff game yet that Wood or Prior haven’t started, so the responsibility is on Clement – the old man of the rotation – to break through.

On March 27, 2002, Florida shipped Clement and Alfonseca to Chicago for Tavarez, Willis, and two other minor-leaguers, pitcher Jose Cueto and catcher Ryan Jorgensen.

Alfonseca was a bust. He only saved 19 games in 28 tries in 2002, then lost his job to Joe Borowski due to injury and ineffectiveness this season. Tavarez wore out his welcome in Florida after one season and is now in Pittsburgh, while Cueto and Jorgensen were still stuck in Double-A this season.